U.S. patent number 7,612,665 [Application Number 10/572,308] was granted by the patent office on 2009-11-03 for wireless sensor system and bearing assembly having built-in wireless sensor.
This patent grant is currently assigned to NTN Corporation. Invention is credited to Masatoshi Mizutani, Koichi Okada, Norihiko Sasaki.
United States Patent |
7,612,665 |
Okada , et al. |
November 3, 2009 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Wireless sensor system and bearing assembly having built-in
wireless sensor
Abstract
A wireless sensor system in which the sensor signal is hardly
affected by disturbance and therefore has an increased reliability,
which can be constructed light-weight and compact in structure
inclusive of the electric power system and in which communication
is possible at all times, and a wireless sensor incorporated
bearing assembly of a light-weight and compact structure utilizing
such wireless sensor system. This wireless sensor system includes a
wireless sensor unit and a sensor signal receiving unit. The
wireless sensor unit includes a sensor section to detect a target
of detection, a digitalizing section to digitalize a sensor signal
thereof, and a sensor signal transmitting section.
Inventors: |
Okada; Koichi (Iwata,
JP), Mizutani; Masatoshi (Iwata, JP),
Sasaki; Norihiko (Iwata, JP) |
Assignee: |
NTN Corporation (Osaka,
JP)
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Family
ID: |
34457492 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/572,308 |
Filed: |
September 14, 2004 |
PCT
Filed: |
September 14, 2004 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/JP2004/013353 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
March 17, 2006 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2005/029436 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
March 31, 2005 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20070030162 A1 |
Feb 8, 2007 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Sep 19, 2003 [JP] |
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2003-327699 |
Sep 19, 2003 [JP] |
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2003-327700 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
340/540; 340/442;
340/444; 340/448; 340/686.1; 73/146.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16C
19/52 (20130101); G01M 13/04 (20130101); G01P
3/446 (20130101); G08C 23/04 (20130101); F16C
41/008 (20130101); G01P 3/443 (20130101); F16C
19/186 (20130101); F16C 19/187 (20130101); F16C
41/007 (20130101); F16C 2326/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G08B
21/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;340/442,444,445,447,449,448,686.1 ;73/146.3,514.39,862.193
;324/174 ;455/456.1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1412564 |
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Apr 2003 |
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CN |
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1424212 |
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Jun 2003 |
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CN |
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64-60118 |
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Mar 1989 |
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JP |
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4-65800 |
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Mar 1992 |
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JP |
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4-133808 |
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May 1992 |
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JP |
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08-010232 |
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Jan 1996 |
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JP |
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9-5178 |
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Jan 1997 |
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JP |
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10-10141 |
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Jan 1998 |
|
JP |
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10-19710 |
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Jan 1998 |
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JP |
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11-238193 |
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Aug 1999 |
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JP |
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2001-15090 |
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Jun 2001 |
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JP |
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2001-151090 |
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Jun 2001 |
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JP |
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2001-349794 |
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Dec 2001 |
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JP |
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2002-151090 |
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May 2002 |
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JP |
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2002-364661 |
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Dec 2002 |
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JP |
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2002-544612 |
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Dec 2002 |
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JP |
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2003-58976 |
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Feb 2003 |
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JP |
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2003-146196 |
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May 2003 |
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JP |
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2003-151063 |
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May 2003 |
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JP |
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2003-151064 |
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May 2003 |
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JP |
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2003-187368 |
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Jul 2003 |
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JP |
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00/69663 |
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Nov 2000 |
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WO |
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Other References
Otsuki Hisashi et al., Patent Abstracts of Japan, "Bearing Device
for Wheel", Publication No. 2002-055113, Publication Date: Feb. 20,
2002. cited by other .
Office Action issued in corresponding Chinese Patent Application
No. 2004800269686, mailed on Jan. 25, 2008. cited by other .
U.S. Appl. No. 10/569,053, filed Feb. 22, 2006, Mizutani et al.,
NTN Corporation. cited by other .
U.S. Appl. No. 10/526,903, filed Mar. 7, 2005, Sahashi et al, NTN
Corporation. cited by other .
Office Action mailed Feb. 19, 2009 for co-pending U.S. Appl. No.
10/569,053. cited by other.
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Primary Examiner: Goins; Davetta W
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A wireless sensor system comprising: one or a plurality of
wireless sensor units including a sensor section to detect a target
of detection, a sensor signal transmitting section to wirelessly
transmit a sensor signal outputted from the sensor section, and an
electric power receiving section to wirelessly receive an electric
operating power to drive the sensor section and the sensor signal
transmitting section; a sensor signal receiving section to receive
the sensor signal transmitted from the sensor signal transmitting
section; and an electric power transmitting section to wirelessly
transmit an electric operating power to the electric power
receiving section, wherein the wireless sensor unit includes a
digitalizing section to digitalize the sensor signal outputted from
the sensor section and the sensor signal transmitting section
transmits the digitalized sensor signal, wherein the electric power
transmitting section is provided in a sensor signal receiving unit
having the sensor signal receiving section.
2. The wireless sensor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
plurality of the wireless sensor units are provided, and the sensor
signal receiving section receives the sensor signal from the sensor
section, which is transmitted from each of the wireless sensor
units.
3. The wireless sensor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
wireless sensor unit includes a plurality of sensors forming
respective parts of the sensor section.
4. The wireless sensor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a
sensor forming the sensor section is at least one of a revolution
sensor, an acceleration sensor, a vibration sensor, a temperature
sensor, a load sensor, a torque sensor or a preload sensor for a
bearing assembly.
5. The wireless sensor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of
the sensor sections includes a revolution sensor comprising a
pulsar ring and a magnetoresistance magnetic sensor disposed in
face-to-face relation with the pulsar ring.
6. The wireless sensor system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the
revolution sensor is a means for generating pulses, and the sensor
signal digitalized by the digitalizing section is a signal
indicative of the period of the pulses.
7. A wireless sensor system comprising: one or a plurality of
wireless sensor units including a sensor section to detect a target
of detection, a sensor signal transmitting section to wirelessly
transmit a sensor signal outputted from the sensor section, and an
electric power receiving section to wirelessly receive an electric
operating power to drive the sensor section and the sensor signal
transmitting section; a sensor signal receiving section to receive
the sensor signal transmitted from the sensor signal transmitting
section; and an electric power transmitting section to wirelessly
transmit an electric operating power to the electric power
receiving section, wherein the wireless sensor unit includes a
digitalizing section to digitalize the sensor signal outputted from
the sensor section and the sensor signal transmitting section
transmits the digitalized sensor signal, one of the sensor sections
includes a revolution sensor comprising a pulsar ring and a
magnetoresistance magnetic sensor disposed in face-to-face relation
with the pulsar ring, the revolution sensor is a means for
generating two or more pulses of different phases, and the sensor
signal digitalized by the digitalizing section is a signal
indicative of the period of the pulses and a direction of
revolution.
8. The wireless sensor system as claimed in claim 2, wherein each
of the wireless sensor units is designed to allow the sensor signal
transmitting section to transmit, in addition to the sensor signal,
an identifying signal indicative of the individual wireless sensor
unit.
9. The wireless sensor system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the
wireless sensor unit is designed to transmit, in addition to the
sensor signal, an identifying number indicative of the individual
sensor forming a part of the sensor section.
10. The wireless sensor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
sensor signal transmitting section transmits the sensor signal by
means of a spread spectrum communication scheme.
11. A wireless sensor system incorporated bearing assembly
comprising a wireless sensor unit employed in the wireless sensor
system as defined in claim 1, the wireless sensor unit being
mounted on a bearing assembly.
12. The wireless sensor system incorporated bearing assembly as
claimed in claim 11, wherein one of sensors forming respective part
of the sensor section is a preload sensor for the bearing
assembly.
13. The wireless sensor incorporated bearing assembly as claimed in
claim 11, wherein the bearing assembly includes an outer member
having a plurality of raceways, an inner member having raceways
aligned with the raceway in the outer member, and a plurality of
rows of rolling elements interposed between the raceways in the
outer member and the raceways in the inner member, respectively,
which assembly is a wheel support bearing assembly to rotatably
support a vehicle wheel relative to a vehicle body structure.
14. A wireless sensor system comprising: one or a plurality of
wireless sensor units including a sensor section to detect a target
of detection, a sensor signal transmitting section to wirelessly
transmit a sensor signal outputted from the sensor section, and an
electric power receiving section to wirelessly receive an electric
operating power to drive the sensor section and the sensor signal
transmitting section; a sensor signal receiving section to receive
the sensor signal transmitted from the sensor signal transmitting
section; and an electric power transmitting section to wirelessly
transmit an electric operating power to the electric power
receiving section, wherein the wireless sensor unit comprises an
electric power accumulating device or a secondary battery to
accumulate the electric power received by the electric power
receiving section, and the electric power transmitting section is
provided in a sensor signal receiving unit having the sensor signal
receiving section.
15. A wireless sensor incorporated bearing assembly including a
rolling bearing assembly comprising: an inner member; an outer
member a plurality of rolling elements interposed between the inner
member and the outer member; a wireless sensor system including one
or a plurality of wireless sensor units including a sensor section
to detect a target of detection, a sensor signal transmitting
section to wirelessly transmit a sensor signal outputted from the
sensor section, and an electric power receiving section to
wirelessly receive an electric operating power to drive the sensor
section and the sensor signal transmitting section, a sensor signal
receiving section to receive the sensor signal transmitted from the
sensor signal transmitting section, and an electric power
transmitting section to wirelessly transmit an electric operating
power to the electric power receiving section, wherein the wireless
sensor unit comprises an electric power accumulating device or a
secondary battery to accumulate the electric power received by the
electric power receiving section; and an electric power
accumulating device or a secondary battery to accumulate the
electric power received by the electric power receiving
section.
16. The wireless sensor incorporated bearing assembly as claimed in
claim 15, wherein the sensor is operable to detect, as a target of
detection, one of revolution of the rolling bearing assembly,
temperature, acceleration, load, torque or bearing preload.
17. The wireless sensor incorporated bearing assembly as claimed in
claim 15, wherein the rolling bearing assembly comprises an outer
member having a plurality of raceways, an inner member having
raceways aligned with the raceways referred to above, respectively,
and a plurality of rolling elements interposed between the raceways
in the outer member and the raceways in the inner member,
respectively, the rolling bearing assembly being a wheel support
bearing assembly to rotatably support a vehicle wheel relative to a
vehicle body structure.
Description
This application claims the benefit of PCT International
Application Number PCT/JP2004/013353 filed Sep. 14, 2004 and
Japanese Application Nos. 2003-327699, filed Sep. 19, 2003 and
2003-327700, filed Sep. 19, 2003 in Japan, the disclosures of which
are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wireless sensor system for
transmitting by wireless various sensor signals such as, for
example, detection signals indicative of the number of revolution
provided in various machines and equipments and wheel support
bearing assemblies mounted in automotive vehicles.
BACKGROUND ART
It has been well known that automobiles and various industrial
machines and equipments are provided with a variety of sensors to
detect targets of detection such as, for example, the number of
revolutions, temperatures and vibrations so that those detected
parameters can be used in controlling and state observation of
those automobiles and industrial machines and equipments. Outputs
from the sensors are generally transmitted through closed circuits
and wires, but experienced difficulty often arises in locating
places of installation of those closed circuits and wires. Under
those circumstances, the wireless sensor system is currently
utilized, in which detection signals are transmitted by the
utilization of electromagnetic waves. Transmitters used therein are
generally provided with a compact battery.
Also, in the ABS (Anti-lock Brake System), in which the number of
revolution of a vehicle wheel is detected by a revolution sensor so
that the automobile braking can be controlled, the wireless system
has been suggested, in which in order to avoid a possible accident
which may be brought about by damage to the sensor wiring within a
tire housing and also to minimize the cost of assemblage, the use
of harnesses extending between the vehicle wheel and the vehicle
body structure is eliminated and, instead, as a revolution sensor,
the detection signal thereof are transmitted in the form of
electromagnetic waves. (See the Japanese Laid-open Patent
Publication No. 2001-151090.) In an exemplary revolution sensor
system of this kind, a multipolar rotary electric generator is used
to accomplish the supply of an electric power for the sensors and
an electric power for the transmitters as well as to accomplish the
detection of the number of revolutions by means of a
self-generation of the electric power, so that it can be assembled
compact in size with no need to supply the electric power from the
vehicle body structure to the revolution sensors. (See the Japanese
Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2002-55113.)
Also, the Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2003-146196
discloses the use of a self-diagnosing circuit in a revolution
sensor incorporated wheel support bearing assembly having a
wirelessly transmittable revolution sensor used therein, in which
the supply of an electric power to the sensors and a radio wave
transmitters is carried out by an electric generator that
concurrently serves as the revolution sensor, but also has made
mention of the wireless supply of an electric power from an outside
power source.
The Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2003-58976 discloses
the transmission of the sensor signals in the form as digitalized.
As an electric power source, a battery or an electric generator is
used therein.
In the wireless sensor system utilizing the battery as an electric
power source as discussed above, the battery is limited to a
specific lifetime and, accordingly, replacement of the battery is
required when the electric power stored therein is consumed, making
it complicated to maintain the lifetime of the battery. It also
involves in an environmental problem associated with disposal of
the battery.
In the revolution sensor system utilizing the self-generated
electric power as discussed above, since generation of the electric
power takes place only when and after the vehicle wheel rotates,
detection would be instable at an extremely low speed approximating
to a halt although it would work stably at a speed of about 10 Km/h
falling within the operating range of the ABS. Also, it cannot be
applied to detection of a target of detection other than
revolution, for example, temperature or the like.
Also, in the wireless electric power supply system, a large
electric power is required to be transmitted for electric power
supply since the efficiency is low as compared with that through
the closed circuit and wires and the generation of the electric
power by means of the electric power generator. However, to
continuously transmit the large electric power in view of failure
of the supply of the electric power brings about a problem that the
electric power consumption of the system as a whole tends to
increase.
As discussed above, the wireless sensor system requires a stable
securement of the electric power.
On the other hand, in the wireless sensor system, the sensor signal
to be transmitted by wireless is susceptible to influence brought
about by disturbance noises and insufficiency is encountered with
in terms of the system reliability. By way of example, in the
system disclosed in the Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No.
2003-146196 referred to above, since the supply of the electric
power by wireless is carried out, the electric power can be
available at all times, but there is a problem in that the sensor
signal is susceptible to influence brought about by the
disturbance. Also, where a plurality of wireless sensor units are
employed, not only is it necessary to change the frequency of
transmission of the sensor signal for each of the wireless sensor
units, but also a plurality of signal receiving circuits each for
the respective particular sensor signal transmission frequency are
required. The electromagnetic waves used for the wireless supply of
the electric power can be easily rendered to be non-modulated
electromagnetic waves. However, in such case, in order to avoid
interference between the electromagnetic waves for the electric
power supply and the electromagnetic waves for the transmission of
the sensor signals, a different frequency must be used for each of
the electromagnetic waves for the electric power supply and the
electromagnetic waves for the transmission of the sensor signals,
or a different plane of polarization must be used for each of the
electromagnetic waves for the electric power supply and the
electromagnetic waves for the transmission of the sensor
signals.
In the system disclosed in the Japanese Laid-open Patent
Publication No. 2003-58976 referred to above, since the sensor
signal is digitalized before it is transmitted, the sensor signal
is robust against the influence brought about by the disturbance,
but it involves problems similar to those discussed above since a
battery or an electric power generator is used as the electric
power source.
As discussed above, numerous problems are encountered in the
wireless sensor system in connection with securement of the
electric power source and reliability of the sensor signals.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless sensor
system, and a wireless sensor incorporated bearing assembly of a
light-weight and compact structure utilizing such wireless sensor
system, in which the sensor signal is hardly affected by the
disturbance noises and therefore has an increased reliability,
which can be constructed light-weight and compact in structure
together with the electric power system, and in which communication
is possible at all times.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless
sensor system, and a wireless sensor incorporated bearing assembly
of a light-weight and compact structure utilizing such wireless
sensor system, in which even when the wireless electric power
supply becomes instable, the sensor output can be obtained stably
and which is effective to accomplish an electric power saving.
The wireless sensor system according to a first construction of the
present invention includes one or a plurality of wireless sensor
units (4A, 4B) including a sensor section (6A, 6B) for detecting a
target of detection, a sensor signal transmitting section (9A, 9B)
for transmitting by wireless a sensor signal outputted from the
sensor section (6A, 6B), and an electric power receiving section
(8A, 8B) for receiving by wireless an electric operating power for
driving the sensor section (6A, 6B) and the sensor signal
transmitting section (9A, 9B); a sensor signal receiving section
(13) for receiving the sensor signal transmitted from the sensor
signal transmitting section (9A, 9B); and an electric power
transmitting section (12) for transmitting an electric operating
power by wireless to the electric power receiving section (8A, 8B),
wherein the wireless sensor unit (4A, 4B) includes a digitalizing
section (7) for digitalizing the sensor signal outputted from the
sensor section (6A, 6B) and the sensor signal transmitting section
(9A, 9B) transmits the digitalized sensor signal.
According to the construction described above, since the sensor
signal is digitalized by the digitalizing section (7) before it is
transmitted, the sensor signal is hardly affected by the
disturbance, resulting in increase of the reliability of the system
as a whole. Also, since the electric power receiving section (8A,
8B) is provided for receiving the electric operating power fed by
wireless, there is no need to use any primary battery nor the
electric power generator as an electric power source for both of
the sensor section (6A, 6B) and the sensor signal transmitting
section (9A, 9B) and the wireless sensor unit (4A, 4B) can be
constructed light-weight and compact in structure. No replacement
of the battery is required and the maintenance is therefore easy to
achieve. Also, unlike the system utilizing the electric power
generator, detection is possible at all times without being limited
to the time during revolution.
In the wireless sensor system of the first construction described
above, the plurality of the wireless sensor units (4A, 4B) may be
provided and the sensor signal receiving section (13) may be
capable of receiving the sensor signal from the sensor section (6A,
6B), which is transmitted from each of the wireless sensor units
(4A, 4B).
In the case of this construction, since the sensor signals
outputted respectively from the wireless sensor units (4A, 4B) can
be received by the common sensor signal receiving section (13), the
wireless sensor system as a whole can be simplified in
structure.
In the wireless sensor system according to the first construction
described above, the electric power transmitting section (12) may
be provided in a sensor signal receiving unit (5) having the sensor
signal receiving section (13).
Although the electric power transmitting section (12) and the
sensor signal receiving section (13) may be provided separate from
each other, inclusion of the both in the common sensor signal
receiving unit (5) is effective to simplify the system.
The wireless sensor system according to the first construction
described above may be of a type, in which the wireless sensor unit
(4A, 4B) includes a plurality of sensors (6a, 6b, 6c) forming
respective parts of the sensor section (6A, 6B). Those plural
sensors (6a to 6c) may be used either for detecting the same kinds
of targets of detection or for detecting different targets of
detection.
In the case of this construction, since sensor signals from those
plural sensors (6a to 6c) can be transmitted by the common sensor
signal transmitting section (9A, 9B), the structure can be
simplified and compactized while they can detect the plural targets
of detection.
In the wireless sensor system according to the first construction
described above, a sensor forming the sensor section (6A, 6B) may
be at least one of a revolution sensor, an acceleration sensor, a
vibration sensor, a temperature sensor, a load sensor, a torque
sensor or a preload sensor for a bearing assembly.
Where the targets of detection includes a detected revolution
signal, load, torque, acceleration and so on, not only a control
of, for example, revolution of machines utilizing the bearing
assembly, but any other controls can be accomplished. Where the
targets of detection include temperature, vibration and preload on
the bearing assembly, control of troubles occurring in the bearing
assembly, state control and lifetime control can be
accomplished.
Also, in the wireless sensor system according to the first
construction, one of the sensor sections (6A, 6B) may include a
revolution sensor which may be made up of a pulsar ring (17) and a
magnetic sensor (18) of a magnetoresistance type disposed in
face-to-face relation with the pulsar ring.
Since the magnetic sensor of a magnetoresistance type, if the
resistance thereof is increased, is effective to minimize the
electric power consumption, it is particularly advantageously
employed in accomplishing the wireless electric power supply.
In such case, the revolution sensor may be a means for generating
pulses, in which case the sensor signal digitalized by the
digitalizing section (7) is a signal indicative of the period or
the interval of the pulses.
Where the output from the revolution sensor is in the form of the
pulse train, digitalization of the pulse period signal makes it
possible to digitalize the sensor signal easily.
In the first construction described above, where one of the sensor
sections (6A, 6B) is a revolution sensor, such revolution sensor
may be a means for generating two or more pulses of different
phases. In such case, the sensor signal digitalized by the
digitalizing section (7) may be a signal indicative of the period
of the pulses and a direction of revolution.
If the direction of revolution can be detected, a highly
sophisticated control can be achieved and parameters to be
controlled can increase. In such case, addition of the signal
indicative of the direction of revolution to the period signal
makes it possible to transmit both of the number of revolutions and
the direction of revolution with a minimized number of bits.
In the first construction described above, where the plural
wireless sensor units (4A, 4B) are employed, each of the wireless
sensor units (4A, 4B) may be so designed as to allow the sensor
signal transmitting section (9A, 9B) to transmit, in addition to
the sensor signal, an identifying signal indicative of the
individual wireless sensor unit (4A, 4B).
Also, where the wireless sensor unit (4A, 4B) includes the plural
sensors as the sensor section (6A, 6B), the wireless sensor unit
(4A, 4B) may be so designed as to transmit, in addition to the
sensor signal, an identifying number indicative of the individual
sensor forming a part of the sensor section (6A, 6B).
When the sensor signal is digitalized, the identifying number can
be transmitted easily for each of the wireless sensor units (4A,
4B) and the plural wireless sensor units (4A, 4B) can be identified
with the electromagnetic waves of the single frequency and,
therefore, the system construction can be simplified. Where the
sensor section (6A, 6B) of each of the wireless sensor units (4A,
4B) includes a plurality of sensors, addition of the identifying
number indicative of the corresponding sensor enables such sensor
to be easily and reliably identified.
In the wireless sensor system according to the first construction
described above, the sensor signal transmitting section (9A, 9B)
may transmit the sensor signal by means of a spread spectrum
communication scheme.
Where the transmission is made by means of the spread spectrum
communication scheme, distinction of the sensor signal can easily
be made from the electromagnetic waves which are used to transmit
the electric power by wireless and which are continuous waves of
non-modulated waves, resulting in increase of the reliability of
the system. Also, transmission of the sensor signal by means of the
spread spectrum communication scheme makes it possible to use the
electromagnetic waves of the same frequency range for transmission
of the sensor signal and also for transmission of the electric
power and, therefore, the same high frequency component parts can
be used in, for example, antennas, resulting in reduction of the
cost.
A bearing assembly incorporated with the wireless sensor system
according to the first construction is a bearing assembly having
mounted thereon the wireless sensor unit (4A, 4B) employed in the
wireless sensor system according to the first construction
described above. The bearing assembly referred to above may be, for
example, a rolling bearing assembly including an outer member, an
inner member and a plurality of rolling elements interposed between
the outer and inner members.
In the case of this construction, mounting on the bearing assembly
of the sensor section (6A, 6B), the sensor signal transmitting
section (9A, 9B) and the electric power receiving section (8A, 8B)
can render the bearing assembly to be intelligent, the wiring
system to be simplified and to be lightweight and compact in
structure and, yet, the provision of the digitalizing section (7)
can render the sensor signal to be robust against influence brought
about by disturbances, accompanied by increase of the reliability
of the sensor signal.
In the wireless sensor system incorporated bearing assembly one of
sensors forming respective part of the sensor section (6A, 6B) may
be a preload sensor for the bearing assembly. In such case, the
preload on the bearing assembly can be monitored and countermeasure
against any trouble of the preload, which would considerably
affects the lifetime of the bearing assembly, can readily be
taken.
In the wireless sensor system incorporated bearing assembly
according to the first construction described above, the rolling
bearing assembly referred to above may be a wheel support bearing
assembly for rotatably supporting a vehicle wheel relative to a
vehicle body structure, which assembly includes an outer member
having a plurality of raceways, an inner member having raceways
aligned with the raceway referred to above, and a plurality of rows
of rolling elements interposed between the raceways in the outer
member and the raceways in the inner member, respectively.
In the case of this construction, it is possible to render the
wheel support bearing assembly to be intelligent and, while the
necessity of use of any harness between the vehicle wheel and the
vehicle body structure can be eliminated, increase of the control
reliability, brought about by increase of the reliability of the
sensor signal, and increase of the safety factor can be
achieved.
The wireless sensor system according to a second construction of
the present invention includes one or a plurality of wireless
sensor units (4A, 4B) including a sensor section (6A, 6B) for
detecting a target of detection, a sensor signal transmitting
section (9A, 9B) for transmitting by wireless a sensor signal
outputted from the sensor section (6a, 6B), and an electric power
receiving section (8A, 8B) for receiving by wireless an electric
operating power for driving the sensor section (6A, 6B) and the
sensor signal transmitting section (9A, 9B); a sensor signal
receiving section (13) for receiving the sensor signal transmitted
from the sensor signal transmitting section (9A, 9B); and an
electric power transmitting section (12) for transmitting an
electric operating power by wireless to the electric power
receiving section (8A, 8B); in which the wireless sensor unit (4A,
4B) includes an electric power accumulating device (27) for
accumulating the electric power received by the electric power
receiving section (8A, 8B). The accumulating device (27) referred
to above may be employed in the form of either a capacitor or a
secondary battery. Transmission and reception of the sensor signal
and the electric operating power may be carried out by the use of,
other than the electromagnetic waves, magnetic coupling, light
waves, infrared beams, ultrasonic waves or any other medium that
can be done by wireless.
According to this construction, since provision is made of the
electric power receiving section (8A, 8B) for receiving the
electric operating power by wireless, there is no need to employ
either the primary battery or the electric power generator as an
electric power source of the sensor section (6A, 6B) and the sensor
signal transmitting section (9A, 9B) and, therefore, the wireless
sensor unit (4A, 2B) can be constructed lightweight and compact in
structure. Since no replacement of the battery is needed, the
maintenance can become easy, too. Also, since the accumulating
device (27) such as, for example, the capacitor or the secondary
battery for accumulating the electric power received by the
electric power receiving section (8A, 8B) is employed, part of the
electric power received by the electric power receiving section
(8A, 8B), which is left unused, can be accumulated during normal
times, and at the time the wireless electric power supply is
instable, the electric power stored in the capacitor or the
secondary battery can be utilized for driving the sensor section
(6A, 6B) and the sensor signal transmitting section (9, 9B). For
this reason, there is no need to transmit a large electric power on
a steady basis in anticipation of the instability of the wireless
electric power supply and, thus, the electric power consumption of
the wireless sensor system can be minimized. Where the capacitor is
used for the electric power accumulating device (27), the capacitor
of a capacity enough to substantially eliminate the instability in
the wireless electric power supply is used. Since even where the
secondary battery is used, the secondary battery may be of a
capacity enough to compensate for the instability in the wireless
electric power supply, it may be of a lightweight and compact size
as compared with the use of the primary battery and, also, no
replacement of the battery is needed.
A bearing assembly incorporated with the wireless sensor system
according to the second construction described above may be of a
type, in which a rolling bearing assembly including an inner
member, an outer member, a plurality of rolling elements interposed
between the inner member and the outer member, and the wireless
sensor system according to the second construction mounted thereon,
which is provided with an electric power accumulating device (27)
such as, for example, a capacitor or a secondary battery for
accumulating the electric power received by the electric power
receiving section (8A, 8B).
In the case of this construction, mounting, on the bearing
assembly, of the sensor section (6A, 6B), the sensor signal
transmitting section (9A, 9B) and the electric power receiving
section (8A, 8B),can render the bearing assembly to be intelligent
and the wiring system to be simplified while being constructed
lightweight and compact in size and, yet, the provision of the
accumulating device (27) such as, for example, the capacitor or the
secondary battery ensures a stable securement of the electric power
with the electric power consumption of the wireless electric power
supply being minimized consequently.
In the wireless sensor incorporated bearing assembly according to
the second construction described above, the sensor referred to
above may be operable to detect, as a target of detection, one of
revolution of the rolling bearing assembly, temperature,
acceleration, load, torque, or bearing preload.
If the target of detection is one of revolution of a rolling
bearing assembly, acceleration, load or torque, a control of
revolution of a machine having the bearing assembly employed
therein and any other control can be carried out. On the other
hand, if the target of detection is temperature, vibration or
bearing preload, control of a trouble in the bearing assembly,
state control and lifetime control can be carried out.
Also, in the wireless sensor incorporated bearing assembly
according to the second construction described above, the rolling
bearing assembly may be a wheel support bearing assembly for
rotatably supporting a vehicle wheel relative to a vehicle body
structure, which includes an outer member having a plurality of
raceways, an inner member having raceways aligned with the raceways
referred to above, respectively, and a plurality of rolling
elements interposed between the raceways in the outer member and
the raceways in the inner member, respectively.
In the case of this construction, it is possible to render the
wheel support bearing assembly to be intelligent and, while the
necessity of use of any harness between the vehicle wheel and the
vehicle body structure can be eliminated, the electric power can be
stably supplied to the sensor section (6A, 6B) and also to the
sensor signal transmitting section (9A, 9B), a stable control can
be achieved and the consumption of the electric power supplied by
wireless can be minimized.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In any event, the present invention will become more clearly
understood from the following description of preferred embodiments
thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
However, the embodiments and the drawings are given only for the
purpose of illustration and explanation, and are not to be taken as
limiting the scope of the present invention in any way whatsoever,
which scope is to be determined by the appended claims. In the
accompanying drawings, like reference numerals are used to denote
like parts throughout the several views, and:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a conceptual structure of a
wireless sensor system according to a first preferred embodiment of
the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the details of an internal
structure of a digitalizing section employed in the wireless sensor
system according to the first preferred embodiment;
FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram showing a revolution sensor of a
sensor unit employed in the wireless sensor system according to the
first preferred embodiment;
FIG. 3B is a chart showing respective waveforms of output pulses
emerging from the revolution sensor;
FIG. 3C is a block diagram showing the details of the internal
structure of a modified form of the digitalizing section;
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a bearing assembly to
which the wireless sensor system according to the first preferred
embodiment is applied;
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a wheel support bearing
assembly to which the wireless sensor system according to the first
preferred embodiment is applied;
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of the
wheel support bearing assembly to which the wireless sensor system
according to the first preferred embodiment is applied;
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of another modified form of
the wheel support bearing assembly to which the wireless sensor
system according to the first preferred embodiment is applied;
and
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a conceptual structure of the
wireless sensor system according to a second preferred embodiment
of the present invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The wireless sensor system according to a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail
with particular reference to FIG. 1. This wireless sensor system
shown therein includes a plurality of wireless sensor units 4A and
4B and a sensor signal receiving unit 5 for supplying an electric
power by wireless to each of the plural wireless sensor units 4A
and 4B and also for receiving respective sensor signals transmitted
from the wireless sensor units 4A and 4B. The number of the
wireless sensor units is not specifically limited and one or three
or more wireless sensor units may be employed, but in the
embodiment shown therein, two wireless sensor units are shown as
employed.
Each of the wireless sensor units 4A and 4B includes a sensor
section 6A or 6B, a digitalizing section 7 for converting a sensor
signal, outputted from the corresponding sensor section 6A or 6B
into a digital sensor signal, a sensor signal transmitting section
9A or 9B for transmitting the digitalized sensor signal by
wireless, an electric power receiving section 8A or 8B for
receiving an electric driving power which has been transmitted by
wireless, and an electric power supply circuit 10.
Each of the sensor sections 6A and 6B may include one or a
plurality of sensors. The sensor forming each of those sensor
sections 6A and 6B may be a revolution sensor, an acceleration
sensor, a temperature sensor, a vibration sensor, a load sensor, a
torque sensor, or a preload sensor for detecting a preload acting
in a bearing assembly.
The electric power supply circuit 10 is a circuit operable to
supply an electric power, which has been received through the
corresponding electric power receiving section 8A or 8B, to each of
the corresponding sensor section 6A or 6B, the corresponding
digitalizing section 7, and the corresponding sensor signal
transmitting section 9A or 9B. This electric supply circuit 10 may
include, although not shown, a capacitor and a secondary battery
for accumulating the received electric power, and a charging
circuit therefor.
The sensor signal receiving unit 5 includes a sensor signal
receiving section 13 for receiving a sensor signal transmitted from
each of the sensor signal transmitting sections 9A and 9B in the
wireless sensor unit 4A and 4B, and an electric power transmitting
section 12 for transmitting by wireless an electric operating power
to each of the electric power receiving sections 8A and 8B in the
wireless sensor units 4A and 4B.
Transmission and reception between the sensor signal transmitting
sections 9A and 9B and the sensor signal receiving section 13 and
those between the electric power transmitting section 12 and the
electric power receiving sections 8A and 8B may be carried out by
the use of electromagnetic waves, light waves, infrared beams,
ultrasonic waves or magnetic coupling.
The electric power transmitting section 12 makes use of, for
example, electromagnetic waves, which are continuous waves of
non-modulated waves. Where the wireless electric power supply is
carried out by the use of electromagnetic waves, each of the
electric power receiving sections 8A and 8B includes a tuning
circuit and a detecting and rectifying circuit.
By way of example, as shown therein, each sensor signal and the
electric power, both supplied by wireless, have different
frequencies relative to each other and, also, the plural sensor
signals employed have different frequencies relative to each other.
In the illustrated embodiment, the electric power supplied by
wireless has a frequency denoted by f1, and the sensor signals have
respective frequencies denoted by f2 and f3. However the frequency
of each sensor signal and that of the electric power supplied by
wireless may be the same, in which case, the sensor signal has to
be transmitted by the use of a spread spectrum communication
technique as will be described later.
Each of the digitalizing section 7 includes, for example, a data
selector 7a, a data converter 7b and a signal processor 7c as shown
in FIG. 2. The data selector 7a is employed where each of the
sensor sections 6A and 6B includes a plurality of sensors 6a, 6b
and 6c, and is operable to select data, fed respectively from the
sensors 6a, 6b and 6c, one at a time so that the data converter 7b
can receive one of those data. In the illustrated embodiment shown
therein, the use of a plurality of sensors 6a to 6c is shown and
those sensors 6a to 6c are shown as a revolution sensor, a
temperature sensor and a vibration sensor, respectively. Data
selection performed by the data selector 7a may be accomplished
either cyclically by means of, for example, a timer or in response
to a suitable switching command.
The data converter 7b serves to convert an analog signal, inputted
thereto, into a digital signal.
The signal processor 7c is, where the plural wireless sensor units
4A and 4B are employed in association with the common sensor signal
receiving section 13 (FIG. 1), operable to apply an identifying
number unique to each of the wireless sensor units 4A and 4B. Where
only one wireless sensor unit is employed, no identifying number is
required. Also, this signal processor 7c is, where each of the
sensor sections 6A and 6B in the respective wireless sensor unit 4A
and 4B includes the plural sensors 6a to 6c, operable to apply an
identifying number required to identify one of the sensors 6a to
6c. Those wireless sensor unit identifying numbers and sensor
identifying numbers are added to the sensor signal to be
transmitted. This signal processor 7c may have a redundant bit such
as, for example, an error correcting code added thereto.
A signal digitalized by the digitalizing section 7 is transmitted
by wireless from the corresponding sensor signal transmitting
section 9A or 9B by means of electromagnetic waves of predetermined
frequencies f1 and f2. This transmission may be carried out by the
use of, other than the electromagnetic waves, light waves, infrared
beams, ultrasonic waves or magnetic coupling as referred to
above.
Transmission from the sensor signal transmitting sections 9A and 9B
are carried out by means of, for example, the spread spectrum
communication technique. The system thereof may be either the
frequency hopping spread spectrum system or the direct sequence
spread spectrum system.
The sensor signal transmitting sections 9A and 9B may transmit
their sensor signals on a time sharing basis in the order of the
respective wireless sensor units 4A and 4B. Also, arrangement may
be made that a request command for data communication can be fed
from a communication request transmitter (not shown), provided in
the sensor signal receiving unit 5, to the wireless sensor units 4A
and 4B one at a time and that one of the wireless sensor units 4A
and 4B whichever received the request command from the sensor
signal receiving unit 5 can transmit the sensor signal. Where the
transmission takes place on the time sharing basis or in response
to the request command, communication between the sensor signal
receiving unit 5 and the wireless sensor units 4A and 4B can take
place with no interference even though the wireless sensor units 4A
and 4B utilize the same transmission frequency. Also, where the
wireless sensor units 4A and 4B transmit the respective sensor
signals with the unique identifying numbers added thereto, the
sensor signals from those wireless sensor units 4A and 4B can be
identified individually.
The spread spectrum communication is robust against disturbance and
interference and, accordingly, even though radio waves of a
frequency falling within the same range of frequencies as those of
the electric power transmitting electromagnetic waves, which are
continuous wave of non-modulated waves, a sufficient reliability
can be secured. When the electromagnetic waves of the same
frequency range are used, the same high frequency component parts
can be employed for component parts such as, for example, antennas,
in the electric power receiving sections 8A and 8B and the sensor
signal transmitting sections 9A and 9B, resulting in reduction of
the cost incurred by the component parts.
Also, a unique frequency of the sensor signal transmitting
electromagnetic waves may be fixed for each of the wireless sensor
units 4A and 4B and the sensor signal receiving section 13 of the
sensor signal receiving unit 5 may have an individual receiver (not
shown) corresponding to the frequency unique to each of the
wireless sensor units 4A and 4B.
Each of the sensor signal transmitting sections 9A and 9B may be of
a type in which transmission of the sensor signal is carried out
with a carrier wave that is digital-modulated by means of, for
example, ASK (Amplitude Shift Keying), FSK (Frequency Shift
Keying), PSK (Phase Shift Keying) or QPSK (Quadrature PSK).
According to the wireless sensor system of the foregoing
construction, since the electric operating power can be supplied by
wireless to each of the wireless sensor units 4A and 4B, neither a
primary battery nor an electric power generator need be employed as
an electric power source for the sensor sections 6A and 6B and the
sensor signal transmitting sections 9A and 9B and, accordingly, the
wireless sensor units 4A and 4B can be constructed compact and
lightweight. Elimination of the necessity of replacement of the
battery facilitates the maintenance. Also, unlike the electric
power generation, communication is possible at all times.
Also, since the sensor signals are digitalized by the respective
digitalizing section 7 before they are transmitted, the reliability
of the system can increase without being almost affected by the
disturbances. Since digitalization of the sensor signals makes it
easy for the identifying numbers of the respective wireless sensor
units 4A and 4B to be transmitted and the plural wireless sensor
units 4A and 4B can be individually identified with the
electromagnetic waves of the same frequency, the system
construction can be simplified. Where each of the sensor sections 6
of the wireless sensor units 4A and 4B includes the plural sensors
6a to 6c, and if the identified numbers are applied respectively to
those sensors 6a to 6c, identification of each of those sensors 6a
to 6c can be accomplished easily.
Where the digitalized sensor signal is transmitted using the spread
spectrum communication system, distinction from the electric power
transmitting electromagnetic waves, which are continuous waves of
non-modulated waves, can be made easily, resulting in increase of
the reliability of the system. Also, transmission of the sensor
signals using the spread spectrum communication system makes it
possible to use the radio waves of the same frequency range as
those for transmission and electric power supply and, therefore,
component parts can be commonly shared, resulting in reduction of
the cost.
An example of a bearing assembly having the wireless sensor built
therein, to which the wireless sensor system according to the
foregoing first embodiment is applied, will now be described with
particular reference to FIG. 4. The wireless sensor units 4A and 4B
are mounted on respective bearing assemblies 51 and 52, and the
single sensor receiving unit 5 operates to supply an electric power
by wireless to each of the wireless sensor units 4A and 4B and also
to receive the sensor signal from each of the wireless sensor units
4A and 4B. The rolling bearing assemblies 51 and 52 are those
installed in different locations in a machinery equipment 53. The
machinery equipment 53 is, for example, a conveyor line including,
for example, a roller conveyor or a belt conveyor, and a rotary
shaft 59 such as a shaft used as a transport roller or a belt drive
roller is rotatably supported by each of the bearing assemblies 51
and 52. Each of the bearing assemblies 51 and 52 is in the form of
a rolling bearing assembly including a row of rolling elements 56
interposed between an inner race 54 and an outer race 55 and
provided with a sealing member 58. The rolling elements 56 in each
of the bearing assemblies 51 and 52 are retained by a roller
retainer 57. The inner race 54 and the outer race 55 correspond to
an inner member and an outer member that are referred to in the
appended claims. The sensor signal receiving unit 5 is positioned
remote from the bearing assemblies 51 and 52.
The sensor section 6A of one 4A of the wireless sensor units 4A and
4b that are mounted on the respective bearing assemblies 51 and 52
is in the form of a revolution sensor, while the sensor section 6B
of the other 4B of the wireless sensor units 4A and 4B are in the
form of a sensor capable of detecting a target of detection other
than the revolution, for example, a temperature sensor, a vibration
sensor, an acceleration sensor, a load sensor, a torque sensor, or
a preload sensor of the bearing assembly. By detecting respective
statuses of the bearing assemblies 51 and 52 with those sensor
sections attached thereto, they can be used for troubleshooting of
the bearing assemblies 51 and 52 and plant line monitoring.
The wireless sensor units 4A and 4B are given the respective
identifying number and feed respective sensor signals with those
identifying numbers added thereto. Where each of the sensor
sections 6A and 6B of those wireless sensor units 4A and 4B
includes a plurality of sensors, arrangement has to be made so that
those sensors can feed respective sensor signals with respective
identifying numbers added thereto.
The sensor section 6A that serves as a revolution sensor includes a
pulsar ring 17 and a magnetic sensor member 18 disposed in
face-to-face relation with the pulsar ring 17. The pulsar ring 17
is of a type having a cyclical change in a direction
circumferentially of the pulsar ring 17 and is such as, for
example, a magnet magnetized to have a plurality of alternating
magnetic poles deployed in a direction circumferentially thereof or
a magnetic ring having gear-like serrations. The magnetic sensor
member 18 detects a cyclic magnetic change in the circumferential
direction of the pulsar ring 17 to detect a revolution of one of
the inner race 54 and the outer race 55 relative to the other and
subsequently outputs a revolution signal. While this revolution
signal is in the form of a train of pulses, the cyclic data of the
pulse train is digitalized by the corresponding digitalizing
section 7 (shown in FIG. 1) before it is transmitted. The magnetic
sensor member 18 is a magnetic field sensor and may be employed in
the form of a magnetoresistance sensor (generally referred to as
"MR sensor"), or an active magnetic sensor such as, for example, a
Hall element sensor, a flux gate magnetic sensor or MI sensor.
The magnetic sensor member 18 may be disposed at two locations
spaced substantially 90.degree. in phase from each other with
respect to the cycle of the magnetic change in the circumferential
direction of the pulsar ring 17, as shown, for example, in FIG. 3A,
so that the direction of revolution can be detected and, in
addition to the cyclic data, data on the direction of revolution
can also be transmitted. In such case, the revolution signals in
the form of two trains of pulses (phase A and phase B) displaced
substantially 90.degree. from each other as shown, for example, in
FIG. 3B can be outputted from the magnetic sensor member 18 and 18,
respectively. Detection of the direction of revolution can be
accomplished when a rotational direction detector 7d incorporated
in the digitalizing section 7 as shown, for example, in FIG. 3C
compares the two pulse trains with each other. A process of
obtaining data on the cycle period T from the pulse trains is
performed in, for example, the data converter 7B. This data on the
cycle period T is processed to be collected together with the data
on the direction of revolution by means of the signal processor
7c.
The magnetic sensor member 18 is preferably employed in the form of
a magnetoresistance type. The magnetoresistance type magnetic
sensor is effective to minimize the electric power consumption when
the resistance is of a high value and can advantageously be
employed in accomplishing the wireless supply of the electric
power.
According to the bearing assembly having the built-in wireless
sensor as described above, incorporation of the sensor sections 6A
and 6B renders the corresponding bearing assemblies 51 and 52 to be
intelligent and wireless transmission of the sensor signals and the
electric power renders the wiring system to be simplified. Also,
since the sensor signals are transmitted after they have been
digitized, the system can be robust against the disturbances and
can therefore have an increased reliability.
Application of the wireless sensor system according to the
previously described first embodiment to a wheel support bearing
assembly for an automotive vehicle is shown in FIG. 5. The
illustrated wheel support bearing assembly 33 includes an outer
member 1 having a plurality of raceways, an inner member 2 having
raceways aligned with the above described raceways, and dual rows
of rolling elements 3 interposed between the raceways in the outer
member 1 and the raceways in the inner member 2 and is so designed
as to rotatably support a vehicle wheel relative to a vehicle body
structure. The wheel support bearing assembly 33 shown therein is
of a fourth generation type, in which the inner member 2 is made up
of a hub axle 2A and an outer race 15a of a constant velocity joint
15, with the raceways in the inner member 2 defined in the hub axle
2A and the constant velocity joint outer race 15a,
respectively.
One of the wireless sensor units, for example, the wireless sensor
unit 4A is mounted on the outer member 1 of the wheel support
bearing assembly 33. The other wireless sensor unit 4B shown in
FIG. 1 may not be employed or may alternatively employed in a
vehicle wheel, separate from the wheel support bearing assembly 33,
for example, for detecting the tire pressure.
The wireless sensor unit 4A includes, as a single sensor member
forming the sensor section 6A, a revolution sensor 6Aa. This
revolution sensor 6Aa is made up of a pulsar ring 17 and a magnetic
sensor member 18 disposed in face-to-face relation with the pulsar
ring 17. The pulsar ring 17 is of a type having a cyclical change
in a direction circumferentially of the pulsar ring 17 and is such
as, for example, a magnet magnetized to have a plurality of
alternating magnetic poles deployed in a direction
circumferentially thereof or a magnetic ring having gear-like
serrations. The magnetic sensor member 18 detects a cyclic magnetic
change in the circumferential direction of the pulsar ring 17 to
thereby detect a revolution of one of the inner and outer members 2
and 1 relative to the other of the inner and outer members 2 and 1
and subsequently outputs a revolution signal. While this revolution
signal is in the form of a train of pulses, the cycle data of the
pulse train is digitalized before it is transmitted. The magnetic
sensor member 18 is a magnetic field sensor and may be employed in
the form of a magnetoresistance sensor (generally referred to as
"MR sensor"), or an active magnetic sensor such as, for example, a
Hall element sensor, a flux gate magnetic sensor or MI sensor. The
magnetic sensor member 18 may be disposed at two locations spaced
substantially 90.degree. in phase from each other with respect to
the cycle of the magnetic change in the circumferential direction
of the pulsar ring 17, as shown, for example, in FIG. 3A, so that
the direction of revolution can be detected and, in addition to the
cycle data, data on the direction of revolution can also be
transmitted.
The wireless sensor unit 4A is of a unitary structure, in which a
circuit box 24 and a sensor installation 23 are integrated
together, with the circuit box 24 disposed in an outer surface of
the outer member 1. The sensor installation 23 is situated within a
radial hole, defined in the outer member 1, so as to communicate
with an annular bearing space delimited between the inner and outer
members 2 and 1. Within the circuit box 24, a communication
functionality including the electric power receiving section 8A and
the sensor signal transmitting section 9A, the digitalizing section
7 and the electric power supply circuit 10, all shown in FIG. 1,
are incorporated, and the magnetic sensor member 18 is disposed in
the sensor installation 23. The sensor installation 23
accommodates, as a different sensor forming another part of the
sensor section 6A, a sensor member 22 capable of detecting
information other than that on the revolution. This sensor member
22 may be, for example, a temperature sensor, a vibration sensor, a
load sensor or a preload sensor.
The sensor signal receiving unit 5 is mounted on the vehicle body
structure. For example, it may be fitted to a tire housing forming
a part of the vehicle body structure. The sensor signal received by
the sensor signal receiving unit 5 is supplied to an electric
control unit (ECU) disposed in the vehicle body structure to
control the vehicle in its entirety and are used for various
controls and abnormality monitoring.
The revolution sensor 6Aa includes the pulsar ring 17 and the
magnetic sensor member 18 for the detection of revolutions and can
detect the revolution until a zero speed since it is supplied an
electric power by wireless and, also, it can be used with, for
example, an anti-skid brake system and/or a traction control. By
detecting the direction of revolution, it can be used for a hill
hold control, for example, a control corresponding to detection of
rearward movement of the automotive vehicle during ascending run or
the reverse.
With the other sensor member 22 such as, for example, a load sensor
or a temperature sensor, a parameter other than the revolution can
be detected and, therefore, the bearing assembly can be designed to
be functionally intelligent, allowing it to be used for the
troubleshooting of the bearing assembly and also for the various
automatic controls.
When as described hereinabove, the wireless sensor system of the
present invention is used in association with the wheel support
bearing assembly 33, the wheel support bearing assembly 33 can be
rendered to be intelligent and a combined use of the wireless
transmission of the sensor signals and a wireless supply of the
electric power is effective to eliminate the use of any harness,
which may extend between the vehicle wheel and the vehicle body
structure, to accomplish a highly reliable automobile control
through digitalization of the sensor signals.
FIG. 6 illustrates an application of the wireless sensor system
according to the previously described first embodiment to a
different type of wheel support bearing assembly. This wheel
support bearing assembly 33 is of a third generation type, in which
the inner member 2 is made up of a hub axle 2A and an inner race
segment 2B mounted externally on one end of the hub axle 2A, with
the raceways in the inner member 2 defined on the peripheral
surfaces in the hub axle 2A and the inner race segment 2B,
respectively. The constant velocity joint 15 includes an outer race
15a having a shaft portion inserted in an axial bore of the hub
axle 2A and firmly fastened thereto by means of a nut member.
The wireless sensor unit 4A is mounted on one end of the outer
member 1. The sensor section 6A of the wireless sensor unit 4A
includes a revolution sensor 6Aa, which in turn includes a pulsar
ring 17 mounted on the inner member 2, and a magnetic sensor member
18 disposed in face-to-face relation with the pulsar ring 17. The
pulsar ring 17 may be in the form of a multipolar magnet or the
like. This pulsar ring 17 is provided as a part of a sealing member
used to seal an annular bearing space delimited between the outer
member 1 and the inner member 2. The magnetic sensor member 18 may
be in the form of a magnetoresistance sensor or a Hall element
sensor. Other structural features are substantially similar to
those shown in and described with reference to FIG. 3.
FIG. 7 illustrates an application of the wireless sensor system
according to the previously described first embodiment to a further
different type of wheel support bearing assembly. This wheel
support bearing assembly 33 is of a third generation type used for
rotatably supporting a vehicle driven wheel. In this embodiment,
the wireless sensor unit 4A is fitted to a cover 25 used to cover a
bearing end. The wireless sensor unit 4A includes a sensor section
6A in the form of a revolution sensor 6Aa made up of a pulsar ring
17 and a magnetic sensor member 18. The sensor section 6A including
the magnetic sensor member 18 has its free end inserted into a hole
defined in the cover 25, and a circuit box 24 mounted on an outer
surface of the cover 25. Other structural features of this
embodiment are substantially similar to those shown in and
described with reference to FIG. 6. It is to be noted that the
inner race segment 2B is rigidly coupled with the hub axle 2A by
means of a crimped portion 100 formed by crimping that end of the
hub axle 2A.
FIG. 8 illustrates the wireless sensor system according to a second
preferred embodiment of the present invention. The wireless sensor
system according to this second embodiment is similar to that
according to the first embodiment, except that no digitalizing
section identified by 7 in connection with the first embodiment is
employed. Also, in place of the electric power supply circuit 10
employed in each of the wireless sensor units in the first
embodiment, an electric power supply section 20 inclusive of the
electric power receiving sections 8A or 8B for receiving an
electric driving power transmitted by wireless is employed. Other
structural features are substantially similar to those shown and
described in connection with the first embodiment.
Each of the electric power supply section 20 serves as a means for
supplying an electric power, received by the electric power
receiving section 8A or 8B, to the respective sensor section 6A or
6B and the respective sensor signal transmitting section 9A or 9B
and includes an accumulating device 27 for storing part of the
received electric power, which is left unused, and a charging
circuit 21 for charging the accumulating device 27. The
accumulating device 27 may be in the form of a capacitor or a
secondary battery. Where the capacitor is used for the accumulating
device 27, the capacitor should preferably be of a type capable of
accumulating a large electric power enough to compensate for
instability of the wireless electric power supply. Each of the
electric power receiving sections 8A and 8B includes a tuning
circuit and a detecting and rectifying circuit where the wireless
electric power supply is carried out by the use of electromagnetic
waves.
According to the wireless sensor system of the foregoing
construction, since the accumulating device 27 are employed for
accumulating the electric power received by the electric power
receiving sections 8A and 8B, respectively, part of the electric
power received by the electric power receiving sections 8A and 8B
during normal times, that is, during a stable condition of the
wireless electric power supply, can be accumulated in the
corresponding accumulating device 27, so that at the time the
wireless electric power supply is instable, the electric power
stored in the accumulating device 7 can be utilized for driving the
sensor sections 6A and 6B and the sensor signal transmitting
sections 9A and 9B. For this reason, there is no need to transmit a
large electric power on a steady basis from the electric power
transmitting section 12 in anticipation of the instability of the
wireless electric power supply and, thus, the electric power
consumption of the wireless sensor system can be minimized. Also,
since the wireless electric power supply and receipt of the
wireless sensor signals are carried out from the common sensor
signal receiving unit 5 to the plural wireless sensor units 4A and
4B, the wireless sensor system in its entirety can be simplified in
structure.
The wireless sensor system according to the above described second
embodiment can be equally applied to the bearing assembly shown in
and described with reference to FIG. 4 to render it to be a
wireless sensor incorporated bearing assembly.
According to this wireless sensor incorporated bearing assembly,
not only does incorporation of the sensor sections 6A and 6B render
the corresponding bearing assemblies 51 and 52 to be intelligent
and wireless transmission of the sensor signals and the electric
power renders the wiring system to be simplified, but the provision
of the accumulating device 27 such as capacitors or secondary
batteries enables the stable electric power supply to be
accomplished. For this reason, there is no need to transmit a large
electric power in anticipation of the instability of the wireless
electric power supply and, thus, the electric power consumption of
the wireless sensor system can be minimized.
Also, the wireless sensor system according to the above described
second embodiment can also be equally applied to the wheel support
bearing assembly shown in and described with reference to FIG. 5 to
render it to be a wireless sensor incorporated bearing
assembly.
As hereinbefore described, when the wireless sensor system is
applied to the wheel support bearing assembly 33, the wheel support
bearing assembly 33 can be designed as an intelligent bearing, and
the necessity of any harness between the vehicle wheel and the
vehicle body structure can be eliminated. The provision of the
accumulating device 27 as shown in FIG. 8 makes it possible for the
electric power to be supplied reliably to the sensor section 6A and
the sensor signal transmitting section 9A to thereby stabilize the
control, and further more, the consumption of the wireless supplied
electric power can be minimized. In other words, there is no need
to transmit a large electric power in anticipation of the
instability of the wireless electric power supply and, thus, the
electric power consumption of the wireless sensor system can be
minimized. This in turn leads to improvement in mileage.
In addition, the wireless sensor system according to the second
embodiment can be applied to the wheel support bearing assembly
shown in and described with reference to any one of FIGS. 6 and 7
to render it to be a wireless sensor incorporated wheel support
bearing assembly.
Other than the various wheel support bearing assemblies, the
present invention can also be equally applied to any industrial
machinery, machine tools and transport machinery for accomplishing
wireless detection of a target of detection in various bearings
and/or other sites employed therein.
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